: The Early Years : 32 Davenport Road : 30 Years at 32 : Changing Seasons : Credo For An Office :

Ray and Sachi Moriyama had worked together for over 10 years to determine the best location for the JCCC, mapping out the addresses of all the Japanese Canadians in Toronto and forecasting patterns of future movement. The Cultural Centre was so carefully designed that only eleven concrete blocks required cutting to size.

In August 1964, Ray had just returned from a trip to Vancouver where he was researching a new technique to strip paint from the Crothers' used equipment, when he received a phone call from the Minister of Public Works inviting him to a meeting. Ray figured there were three possibilities: the Minister had called the wrong person (probably wanting Murani of Murani and Morris), he wanted another outhouse building like the one the firm had just designed for Philadelphia, or he was calling a long list of architects who might be interested in some minor project. He told the Minister that he was too busy and hung up.

The Minister called back and persuaded Ray to meet with him that afternoon. Trying to find his way to the Minister's office under a dark and overcast sky, Ray was sure the meeting would be a waste of time, even a disaster. By the time he left the office, he had received the commission to design the Ontario Science Centre! It was the first time the Province had ever awarded a large commission to anyone under 40 years of age (Ray was only 34).

Over the next two years the firm took on more people and expanded to the second floor of 711 Church, with the Electricians' Union still on the ground floor. It was time to find a new home.

Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Lobby

Ontario Science Centre